Statutory Moderation and Assessment

In 2017/2018 this service is funded through Slough Council’s General Fund.

All schools and academies are subject to formal moderation arrangements at least once in any four year period. Some schools will be moderated more frequently as moderation remains a key tool to support teachers and schools to be sure that standards are in line with national expectations.

Moderation Process  

Academies and Free Schools must comply with statutory requirements for key stage 1 assessment. Schools must respond to STA communication in the autumn term, to confirm to STA which LA they wish to conduct moderation visits for each key stage. Academies may be charged by the LA they select for this service. Academies must provide their selected LA with proof of their most recent moderation visit and the outcome. 

If an Independent School wishes to submit its results for the national summary of results it must employ an LA and take part in their moderation process - moderated in the first year it participates and then at least once in every four- year cycle

Schools are required to submit teacher assessment data to the DfE each year.  This year data must be submitted by Thursday 28th June 2018. 

Schools that are selected for inclusion in statutory moderation arrangements will be notified on or after 18th May 2018. In Slough, the window for moderation visits is Monday 5th to Friday 22nd June. From the 25th June to 27th June schools could be re-moderated or be subject to part of the appeals process. Each school selected for moderation will receive a visit by members of the KS1 or KS2 moderation team. 

All moderators used have successfully completed this years standardization exercise as required by the STA (Standards and Testing Agency). 

In 2017/2018 the moderation process will focus on outcomes for reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 1. At Key Stage 2 the focus will be on outcomes for writing. Teachers will be asked to provide evidence to support teacher assessment judgements made for a sample of pupils in each teaching group with year 2 or year 6 pupils. Pupils will be selected randomly from information provided to the moderators the day before, if data has been shared with moderators early, by local agreement. 

Full details of the STA Moderation process and requirements, along with the Sloughs Moderation Arrangements can be found in the local authority handbook, which was sent to all schools last term.

Testing Arrangements 

In 2017/18 all schools are required to administer tests in grammar punctuation and spelling, reading and mathematics during May. The test materials will be delivered to schools in April. Test materials are subject to storage and security requirements. Materials are subject to secure storage requirements from the date of delivery until June. STA outline security of test material requirements in the 2018 ARA document. Schools should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place. 

In 2017/18 the local authority is required to visit a minimum of 10% of schools and academies to complete administration and security checks. All advisers completing monitoring and security checks are DBS checked.    

Phonics Screening Check 

The phonics screening check is a short, light-touch assessment to confirm whether individual children have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by their school to improve their reading skills. 

As with KS1 and KS2 test administration the Phonics Screening check is subject to STA security and administration requirements as detailed in the assessment and reporting arrangements handbook and all specific handbooks and guidance. 

Unannounced visits are made to 10% of schools and academies before, during or after the check period in June to ensure that schools have robust procedures in place to maintain the integrity of the checks.